News

All public buildings to get advice on halting suicide bombers

THE government is to step up its fight against Al-Qaeda by unveiling a plan to protect every public building in Britain against suicide car bombers.

The move, to be announced by Lord West, the security minister, tomorrow, comes as police investigating the alleged Easter bomb plot unearthed links to a suspected second network of bombers in the south of England.

West told The Sunday Times that every shopping centre, sports stadium, school, hospital, nightclub, bar and theatre would receive detailed police advice on how to "design out" the threat of a suicide car or truck bomb. Even churches would receive advice on how to protect themselves from such attacks.

The move comes as detectives continue to interview 11 suspects arrested 10 days ago in Manchester and Liverpool. The men were allegedly observed taking photographs of the Arndale and Trafford shopping centres and a nightclub.